Telling the story of the lonely Japanese population.
As we studied loneliness in Japan, we found that there is a whole population of people that are isolated from society. The Japanese call them Hikikomori. This video was created to educate on the struggles these individuals face.
It is recorded that 30,000 Japanese people die alone from this condition every year.
The lifestyle of a hikikomori stems from the effects of society's strict rules. For instance, if a young adult does not get a job after graduating college, or after an elderly person retires, society views them as worthless. Family, work, and community are deteriorating.
This phenomenon has drastically impacted our research. We are now in search of a solution of a design intervention that will positively impact the lives of these individuals. Maybe we can reconnect them with society.
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